Devotionals

Spurgeon's Daily Devotionals - Morning Edition

January 24

"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler." - Psalm 91:3

God delivers his people from the snare of the fowler in two senses. From, and
out of. First, he delivers them from the snare-does not let them enter it; and
secondly, if they should be caught therein, he delivers them out of it. The
first promise is the most precious to some; the second is the best to others.

"He shall deliver thee from the snare." How? Trouble is often the means whereby
God delivers us. God knows that our backsliding will soon end in our
destruction, and he in mercy sends the rod. We say, "Lord, why is this?" not
knowing that our trouble has been the means of delivering us from far greater
evil. Many have been thus saved from ruin by their sorrows and their crosses;
these have frightened the birds from the net. At other times, God keeps his
people from the snare of the fowler by giving them great spiritual strength, so
that when they are tempted to do evil they say, "How can I do this great
wickedness, and sin against God?" But what a blessed thing it is that if the
believer shall, in an evil hour, come into the net, yet God will bring him out
of it! O backslider, be cast down, but do not despair. Wanderer though thou hast
been, hear what thy Redeemer saith-"Return, O backsliding children; I will have
mercy upon you." But you say you cannot return, for you are a captive. Then
listen to the promise-"Surely he shall deliver thee out of the snare of the
fowler. " Thou shalt yet be brought out of all evil into which thou hast fallen,
and though thou shalt never cease to repent of thy ways, yet he that hath loved
thee will not cast thee away; he will receive thee, and give thee joy and
gladness, that the bones which he has broken may rejoice. No bird of paradise
shall die in the fowler's net.